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<\/p>\nThe quality of the participants surely challenged\u00a0the course designer Gr\u00e9gory Bodo (FRA). However, the French mastermind once again illustrated why he is one of the best in his field: Eight of the 59 horse-and-rider combinations that started in the first round cleared the delicate track, joining the deciding jump-off.<\/p>\n
Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) on the incredible H&M Indiana (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Animo’s Hallo) delivered the first clear in the jump-off with a time of 36.33 seconds. Philip Houston (GER) on Sandros S Bella (Sandro Boy x Chacco-Blue) and Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) on\u00a0Nuance Bleue Vdm Z (Nabab de Reve x Canturo) followed but could not match the Swedish rider\u2019s time.<\/p>\n
Epaillard \u2013 who kicked off the first week of the Spring MET 2021 with a Grand Prix win on Usual Suspect D\u2019Auge (Jarnac x Papillon Rouge) \u2013 showed that there was still room for improvement when it came to the leading time. As second last to go, he set Queeletta\u00a0in top gear. Cruising around the track, Epaillard stopped the clocks on 34.13 seconds, pushing Baryard-Johnsson down to second, Houston to third and De Luca to fourth. As the last pair to go, Christian Kukuk and Mumbai (Diamant de Semilly x Nabab de Reve) looked set to challenge the new leader, but with one fence down, last week\u2019s winning rider had to settle for the sixth place. The fastest four-faulter, current world number one Steve Guerdat (SUI) on\u00a0Albfuehren’s Maddox (Cohiba 1198 x Maraton) ended fifth.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe course was very technical and delicate,\u201d Epaillard commented afterwards. \u201cIt was not too big, but you needed good control all around the track. The last line and the triple combination caused some problems. For me, the course was very well built.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo go fast and not touch the poles,\u201d Epaillard laughed when asked about his jump-off strategy. \u201cWith Kukuk behind me \u2013 who is always very fast \u2013 I was not going to play for the second place. It was a win or lose for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cQueeletta had a little break after Riyadh, this was her first Grand Prix of the year,\u201d Epaillard said about his winning partner. \u201cNow she is going to have three weeks off before the Longines Global Champions Tour season opener in Doha. For the moment, I am on the French Olympic short-list with her. However, it is difficult to make a plan right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the strict Covid-19 protocols being implemented at the showground, Epaillard said he felt very safe in Oliva Nova. \u201cWe all want to jump, and everyone is doing their best to respect the restrictions: No one wants the sport to stop again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mediterranean Equestrian Tour\u2019s spring edition now takes a break of one week before returning to action on February 9, 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n